Improvement in mowing-machines



S. P. BRIGGS.

Mowing Machine.

Patented June 2, 1857.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ SILAS P. BRIGGS, OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [7,1 l 7, dated June :2, 1857.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SILAS P. Barees, of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga county,New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement to be applied to the Ketchui'n MowingMachine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the combination, with the Ketchum mowing-machine, of a peculiarly-constructed attachment whereby the drivers seat is placed on a frame resting on a small wheel and other connection, which, together with a foot apparatus, is so arranged and combined as at the will of the driver any desired amount of the weight of the parts that usually drag 011 the ground when the machine is in operation can be balanced and carried uniformly for transportation, passing obstructions, backing, 850.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Theaccompanying drawings exhibita mowing-machine (Ketchums patent) with my improvement attached.

A is the wheel; B, the axle, the inner end of which is attached to the frame of the machine, near the driving-wheel, with a hinge allowing motion up and down.

0 is a frame-piece attached to the machine in part by a hook taking hold of a staple or loop on the shoe at D. The outer end of the axle is confined in C at E.

F is a small platform or framepiece firmly attached to O, and attached to the machine frame at G byaloose connection of leather or other substance.

H is a bar firmly attached to the machine frame at I by the standard J.

K is a foot-piece attached to the machine frame at L with a hinge; also to the piece M at O with a hinge. The parts P and Q, are hinged to M at R, and P to H at S, and Q to platform at T.

U is the drivers seat.

V is a loop.

In operation the. driver, whatever his own .weight, may cause as much or little of the dragging weight to be carried by the wheel as he pleases by changing the position of the seat or his position on the seat, or the position of the wheel. If the seat be placed far to theleft or forward, or the driver sit on theleft end, or the wheel and axle be located far back, the effect will be to make the wheel carry the less wei ht, and the opposite position the opposite effect. One point of superiority of this attach nient over others consists in the fact that this hasa uniform supporting effect when the machine is cutting, whcther the surface be regular or not, whereas others, when the wheel is in a hollow, bear no weight, and when on a swell too much. To raise up the finger-bar and cutter the driver places his foot against K and presses forward till P and Q come in the same straight line, when they will become set and hold the bar or dragging parts elevated for transportation. He may hold the bar par' tially elevated for backing or passing slight obstructions. To let down when fast up he may place the fore part of his foot in the loop V and pull back.

Having thus fully described my improvements in mowing-machines, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The peculiarly constructed attachmen t above described, when connected to and used in combination with the Ketchum mowing-machine in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

SILAS P. BRIGGS.

'Witnesscs:

J. B. MoKEAN, ABIEL STODDARD. 

